Patents by Inventor Dominic Reutter

Dominic Reutter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9415752
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a driver assistance unit that includes a braking unit and at least one detection unit to detect an environmental parameter. The driver assistance unit can control performance of an autonomous deceleration of the motor vehicle in the case of a risk of collision, which is recognized using the environmental parameter. The driver assistance unit is formed in such a way that an autonomous emergency stop is only then able to be carried out if the motor vehicle has at least one reversible seat belt pre-tensioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Hikmet Parca, Dominic Reutter
  • Publication number: 20140142830
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a driver assistance unit that includes a braking unit and at least one detection unit to detect an environmental parameter. The driver assistance unit can control performance of an autonomous deceleration of the motor vehicle in the case of a risk of collision, which is recognized using the environmental parameter. The driver assistance unit is formed in such a way that an autonomous emergency stop is only then able to be carried out if the motor vehicle has at least one reversible seat belt pre-tensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Hikmet Parca, Dominic Reutter
  • Patent number: 8275519
    Abstract: A preventatively acting safety system for a motor vehicle comprises safety devices which are actuated as a function of information which is recorded by a driving situation detection device by means of a driving state sensor system and is evaluated in a data evaluation device. The recorded information are compared with at least one triggering threshold value and the safety devices being actuated when the triggering threshold value is exceeded. The triggering threshold value is adapted as a function of a total vehicle acceleration and a vehicle speed, to correspond to a degree of danger felt by a vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter, Alfred Wagner
  • Patent number: 8068956
    Abstract: In a restraining device for an occupant of a vehicle, having a belt that can be drawn out or retracted by a lockable retractor, and a reversible seat-belt tightener, in the case of an impending but still avoidable first event the reversible seat-belt tightener automatically exerts and maintains a first tightening force on the belt and/or reduces the first tightening force if the first event is no longer impending. In the case of an impending, no longer avoidable second event, automatically exerts a second tightening force on the belt which is greater than the first tightening force. The first tightening force and the second tightening force acting constantly in the retracting direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Dirk Beisheim, Werner Bernzen, Xavier Christmann, Dominic Reutter, Juergen Schmitt, Florian Zenker
  • Patent number: 8019509
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventatively actuating a vehicle occupant protection system in a vehicle having a sensor system which acquires driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means which can be triggered before the collision time and thus moved into an operative position. A control signal for triggering the vehicle occupant protection means is activated if at least one critical driving state is present, and is deactivated if the respective critical driving state ends and as a function of at least one further condition which represents at least one sensed controllable driving behavior. As a result, the vehicle occupant protection system is reset to its initial state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Patent number: 7954590
    Abstract: In a method for operating a preventive-action protection system in a vehicle having safety devices for diminishing the consequences of accidents, driving state data is acquired by a driving state sensor system and is monitored with respect to the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle and a braking torque request by the driver. A state of emergency braking is determined by a braking request evaluation means, and at least one of the safety devices is triggered only if a longitudinal deceleration below a longitudinal deceleration threshold is simultaneously present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Patent number: 7912609
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a preventive protective system which includes safety devices actuated as a function of information obtained from a vehicle state sensor system and evaluated in a data evaluation and control device. In the associated process, the data evaluation and control device compares the recorded information with at least one triggering threshold value and actuates at least one safety device which is associated with this driving state when a criticality of the driving state is identified. Triggering of the associated safety device is actuated with respect to a force time gradient as a function of the identified criticality of the driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Dirk Beisheim, Xavier Christmann, Dominic Reutter, Juergen Schmitt, Florian Zenker
  • Patent number: 7894959
    Abstract: In a method for actuating a vehicle occupant protection system, a sensor senses driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection device can be triggered to move into an effective position, prior to an imminent collision. A setpoint braking deceleration, which triggers the vehicle occupant protection device when a threshold value is exceeded, is determined by a predictive surroundings sensing unit in advance of an imminent collision. A check is made to determine whether the setpoint braking deceleration exceeds a threshold value, by referring to a deceleration characteristic curve that is dependent on the vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Patent number: 7798275
    Abstract: An arrangement for automatically supporting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat when lateral dynamic forces are acting includes a restraint system for securing an upper body of the vehicle occupant in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as a function of the lateral dynamics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Michael Fehring, Dominic Reutter, Michael Bischoff, Thomas Schwer
  • Publication number: 20100036565
    Abstract: In a method for actuating a vehicle occupant protection means a sensor system senses driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means can be triggered before the collision time and as a result moved into an effective position. A setpoint braking deceleration, which triggers the vehicle occupant protection means when a threshold value is exceeded, is determined by a predictive surroundings sensing unit in advance of an imminent collision. Checking is carried out to determine whether the requested setpoint braking deceleration exceeds a threshold value by referring to a deceleration characteristic curve that is dependent on the vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Publication number: 20090150028
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car, a preventive-action protection system is provided which includes safety devices that are actuated as a function of information detected by a driving-state sensor system and evaluated in a data evaluation and control device, which compares the detected information with at least one threshold value. When a critical condition of the driving state is detected, the data evaluation and control device actuates at least one safety device assigned to this driving state. Here, a theoretical, lateral-dynamics critical condition is detected and triggering of at least one assigned safety device occurs if a threshold value is exceeded when a current steering angle speed is logically combined with a parameter which represents the current driving-dynamics situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter, Alfred Wagner
  • Publication number: 20090076685
    Abstract: In a restraining device for an occupant of a vehicle, having a belt that can be drawn out or retracted by a lockable retractor, and a reversible seat-belt tightener, in the case of an impending but still avoidable first event the reversible seat-belt tightener automatically exerts and maintains a first tightening force on the belt and/or reduces the first tightening force if the first event is no longer impending. In the case of an impending, no longer avoidable second event, automatically exerts a second tightening force on the belt which is greater than the first tightening force. The first tightening force and the second tightening force acting constantly in the retracting direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Dirk Beisheim, Werner Bernzen, Xavier Christmann, Dominic Reutter, Juergen Schmitt, Florian Zenker
  • Publication number: 20080319615
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, having a preventatively acting safety system which comprises safety devices which are actuated as a function of information which is recorded by a driving situation detection device by means of a driving state sensor system and is evaluated in a data evaluation device, with the recorded information being compared with at least one triggering threshold value and the safety devices being actuated when the triggering threshold value is exceeded. According to the invention, the triggering threshold value is adapted as a function of a total vehicle acceleration and a vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter, Alfred Wagner
  • Publication number: 20080306658
    Abstract: A motor vehicle including a preventive protective system which includes safety devices actuated as a function of information obtained from a vehicle state sensor system and evaluated in a data evaluation and control device. In the associated process, the data evaluation and control device compares the recorded information with at least one triggering threshold value and actuates at least one safety device which is associated with this driving state when a criticality of the driving state is identified. Triggering of the associated safety device is actuated with respect to a force time gradient as a function of the identified criticality of the driving state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Daimlerchrysler AG
    Inventors: Dirk Beisheim, Xavier Christmann, Dominic Reutter, Juergen Schmitt, Florian Zenker
  • Publication number: 20080221758
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventatively actuating a vehicle occupant protection system in a vehicle having a sensor system which acquires driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection means which can be triggered before the collision time and thus moved into an operative position. A control signal for triggering the vehicle occupant protection means is activated if at least one critical driving state is present, and is deactivated if the respective critical driving state ends and as a function of at least one further condition which represents at least one sensed controllable driving behavior. As a result, the vehicle occupant protection system is reset to its initial state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Patent number: 7424353
    Abstract: A safety device for a motor vehicle has at least one closable opening of the interior, and a closing element driven by a servo drive for closing the opening. A control unit evaluates the data relevant to safety when the vehicle is in motion and activates the servo drive at such a time that the closing element is moved into a predetermined position, in which the closable opening has an open gap prior to the occurrence of an expected accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Konrad Engelhardt, Dominic Reutter
  • Publication number: 20080203783
    Abstract: An arrangement for automatically supporting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat when lateral dynamic forces are acting includes a restraint system for securing an upper body of the vehicle occupant in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as a function of the lateral dynamics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Fehring, Dominic Reutter, Michael Bischoff, Thomas Schwer
  • Publication number: 20080162002
    Abstract: A safety device is provided for a motor vehicle having a vehicle seat whose seat setting can be adjusted by a seat adjustment drive. A seat control unit evaluates data that is relevant to the safety of a driving mode and actuates the seat adjustment drive with timing. Thereby, movement of the vehicle seat into a seat setting occurs that is optimum for a vehicle occupant in terms of safety technology is initiated before the occurrence of an anticipated accident event. Movement of the vehicle seat into its optimum seat setting in terms of safety technology is carried out successively in individual adjustment steps for the respective components of the vehicle seat in a predefined sequence by the seat control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
    Inventors: Werner Bacher, Ralf Bogenrieder, Martin Pfieffer, Dominic Reutter, Friedhelm Sawinsky, Matthias Walz, Wilfried Walz
  • Publication number: 20080143177
    Abstract: In a method for operating a preventive-action protection system in a vehicle having safety devices for diminishing the consequences of accidents, driving state data is acquired by a driving state sensor system and is monitored with respect to the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle and a braking torque request by the driver. A state of emergency braking is determined by a braking request evaluation means, and at least one of the safety devices is triggered only if a longitudinal deceleration below a longitudinal deceleration threshold is simultaneously present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: DAIMLERCHRYSLER AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Publication number: 20080018140
    Abstract: A safety device is provided for a motor vehicle with a tilting roof integrated into a roof area and a servo drive for opening and closing the tilting roof. A coordination unit is provided that evaluates data relevant to driving safety and controls the servo drive in a timed manner so that a closing operation is initiated for the open tilting roof prior to an imminent accident.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler
    Inventors: Dominic Reutter, Hans-Herbert Schreier